Like many of us, you may have been asked if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior or if you have surrendered your life to God. You may have been asked if you’ve invited Jesus into your heart, been born again, or called upon the name of Jesus.

You may have been present during an altar call for salvation at some time in your life, maybe more than once. It you’ve resisted because you’re an independent sort, or because these expressions seem trite and meaningless, read on. I just want a couple minutes of your time.

It is your life, it HAS been given to you, and so it is easy to understand why you may want to hold onto your independence. But let us examine what you are really doing. Chances are you are a pretty smart guy or gal, with lots of brains and talents, and you are probably pretty self sufficient. Maybe you’ve been able to tackle whatever problems have come your way in life, with pretty good results. You may wonder what benefits you would get for surrendering to God.

Let me explain it with a story. Say you own a car. A nice car. A fairly new and reliable car of whatever make you like. You work and get money to put gas in the car and change the oil and tires and whatever else you need to keep the car running. But then you have a few bumps in the road. Your new tires were blown before their time. You had no budget for that. There wasn’t enough in the bank to cover the cost of new ones. So you put off the oil and filter change, quit your regular car cleaning and waxing, maybe sold off your brand-name car mats and bought some retreads. Well, eventually things are going to catch up to you. The dirty oil is going to impact your engine and car performance, your interior is going to get dirty more easily, and — the bottom line — you are going to need more expensive repairs. Say you need an engine overhaul. Oh no. Maybe you start stripping your car for parts. Whatever you can sell to raise and replace with cheaper, you replace. If it will run without it, great. It will still run. And so, there you are with a car that looks like it has been through World War III and you hold your breathe every time you crank the engine. You’ve done a great job with what you had. After all, your car is running. It is getting you to work. And you may be saving for repairs, or a new car.

But consider this. God owns everything. He owns the car dealerships! All you had to do was ask and he would have helped you. He may have given you new tires, or a new engine, or a new car. But you wanted to do everything yourself, or your own way. And so he let you. You are having the privilege of driving around town in a jalopy. For what? Because you don’t want to surrender to God? Surrender what?

That’s the way I’ve come to view giving your life to God. When I surrendered my life to
God I didn’t have much left to give. I was pretty much like that car on its last leg, barely able to hobble around. And so I surrendered my life. What did I have to lose? Nothing. All I had to do was gain. What I learned was: Surrendering your life to God is nothing more than agreeing to do what he says. It’s really really important because he can’t help you very well if you are resisting his efforts. And because he is wise and all knowing, he really has a better plan for our lives than we do.

And now for a few words about independence. When you surrender your life you’re still living. You still have your old jalopy and he may enable you to trade it in for a new set of wheels to drive around. Yeah, you’re different on the inside. You may have some refined goals and ambitions. But you still have a life and a car. You still have a choice whether you want to follow God everyday. And you are still in the front seat, with God at the wheel and you in the passenger seat. Instead of going to the junkyards looking for auto parts, you’re going on a new adventure or to the best restaurant in town. …

Learn more about God with Cheryl’s new ebook, Finding God: Biblical Answers to Questions about Our Maker. This ebook is free for a limited time at the New Christian Books Online Store using the code GODISLOVE at checkout.

Build your faith with Cheryl’s devotions book, Fast Track to Victory, A Christian Guidebook, a 40-lesson book for those eager to run the race set before them. Get your autographed copy at the New Christian Books Online Store.

Cheryl Rogers publishes New Christian Books Online Magazine as a resource for Christian readers and writers. She has authored fiction and non-fiction books aimed at children through adults. A former newspaper reporter, she now shares the Good News of God’s salvation and love.